Cops ‘pushing for Maddie McCann suspect Christian Brueckner to stand trial in UK’ – as parents attend vigil 19 years on
COPS are reportedly pushing for Christian Brueckner to stand trial in the UK for the abduction and murder of Maddie McCann.
The Met Police want to charge the 48-year-old German before the 20th anniversary of the toddler’s disappearance next year, it is understood.
German cops named Brueckner as the prime suspect while he was serving a sentence for the rape of a pensioner – but charges were never brought.
He was released from jail last year and set up camp in a woodland lair.
But The Sun recently reported he is hoping to be granted a new identity and start afresh after a court gave him permission to leave Germany.
Police fear they will no longer be able to track him as his ankle tag will stop working as soon as he crosses the border.
Now The Telegraph reports that Scotland Yard believe it can gather enough evidence for the case to be heard in the UK.
But the German constitution prohibits the extradition of its citizens to a non-EU country.
This means Berlin is likely to reject any request from the UK, possibly triggering a diplomatic and legal row.
Scotland Yard believes it can gather enough evidence for the Crown Prosecution Service to authorise charges and for the case to be heard at the Old Bailey, reports say.
Should Germany refuse any request to hand over the rapist and paedophile, British cops are committed to ensuring he still faces charges in Germany or Portugal, where the youngster went missing.
At the time of Maddie’s disappearance, Brueckner was living just a mile away from the Praia da Luz hotel where she had been staying with her family in 2007.
An insider at Scotland Yard told the paper: “Next year marks 20 years since Madeleine McCann went missing.
“If the evidence is strong enough to extradite the prime suspect and try him here, that is what we would seek to do.
“Clearly, there are numerous hurdles but our priority at the moment is to amass the strongest evidence we can against that prime suspect.”
A Met spokesperson said: “The Met’s investigation into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann has been active since 2011.
“A dedicated team continues to examine the events of the evening of 3 May 2007 in Praia da Luz, while supporting and updating Madeleine’s family.
“As part of ongoing enquiries, we remain in close working discussion with policing colleagues in Germany and Portugal.
“We will continue to pursue any viable lines of enquiry.”
It comes as the parents of Madeleine McCann were joined by her brother and sister at a prayer vigil to mark 19 years since her disappearance.
Kate and Gerry stood alongside twins Sean and Amelie, now 21, at the poignant gathering and later vowed: “We will never give up.”
In a statement online the couple said: “Nineteen years. The search goes on to find her, to achieve some justice, to make the world that bit safer.
“We remain very grateful for all our support from friends and family, people we know and those we don’t — and from the police and authorities for their continued determination and effort.
“For Madeleine, who we love and miss every day, we will never give up. Kate, Gerry and family.”
The service in the McCanns’ home village of Rothley, Leicestershire, was the first time Madeleine’s brother and sister have been pictured at a public event with their parents.
Sean, a swimmer who hopes to represent Great Britain in the 2028 Olympics, and university student Amelie lit candles for their sister, who would now be nearly 23.
Kate’s uncle, Brian Kennedy, a retired headteacher, read The Beacon, a poem written for the McCanns by the Poet Laureate Simon Armitage.
The Rev Rob Gladstone, vicar of Rothley Parish Church, said: “We gather today to pray for Madeleine and other missing children, to encourage one another and especially Gerry and Kate to keep up our hope and pray for a renewal of strength even after 19 years.”
After the 20-minute service, the family walked back to their home.
Villager Michelle Canilleri said: “I really feel for the family. They still have no closure and peace after all these years. There is a lot of support for them here.”
Three-year-old Madeleine vanished in Praia da Luz, Portugal, while on holiday with her family in May 2007.
No one has ever been brought to justice.
